Varferill

Perched atop the rugged cliffs of Reaver's Bay, the fortress of Varferril is a grim and imposing structure, overlooking the wild, windswept coast of southern Mar Miskun. Once a mighty stronghold of the Thalissian Empire, its broken battlements and shattered walls tell of centuries of abandonment and violence. For many years, it was a haunt of petty corsairs, the ruin serving as a convenient staging ground for raids against the coastlines of Mar Miskun and into the Seynan Islands. Now, however, the ruined fortress has been restored to grim splendour under the iron-fisted rule of Darpash Kagarran, a fearsome pirate lord known as Kagarran the Grim.

Kagarran, a hulking Kazlaa with dark eyes and a permanently furrowed brow, claimed Varferril as his own fifteen years ago, driving out the squabbling pirate bands and crushing any resistance with brutal efficiency. Since then, he has refortified the stronghold, transforming it into a formidable base of operations for his fleet of corsair vessels. Kagarran’s control of Varferril has brought an uneasy stability to Reaver’s Bay, but his presence is a thorn in the side of both the League of Mar Miskun and the Mar Mabon Townships. Despite their best efforts, the League’s patrol ships have been unable to dislodge Kagarran’s forces from their stronghold.
The fortress itself is a sprawling, multi-tiered structure built into the natural contours of the cliffside. Thick stone walls, reinforced with timber and fresh masonry, enclose a series of courtyards and inner chambers. The lower levels of the fortress include a walled harbour, where Kagarran’s fleet of swift corsair ships lies moored. These ships, sleek and deadly, are capable of outrunning most pursuers, and their crews are some of the most skilled and ruthless sailors in the archipelago. A series of heavy iron chains can be raised across the harbour’s mouth, sealing off the inlet from any unwanted intrusions. From here, narrow paths wind up through the lower levels of the fortress to the main keep, which rises above the rest of the structure like a vulture’s perch.
The keep itself is a dark and foreboding edifice. Its tall, narrow windows and jagged crenelations give it the appearance of a great, clawed hand clutching at the sky. Within the keep, Kagarran has established his throne room: a dimly lit hall lined with tapestries and trophies taken from fallen enemies. Here, the pirate lord holds court, surrounded by his most trusted captains and advisors. The air in the hall is thick with the scent of salt and smoke, and the ever-present murmur of the sea can be heard through the narrow slits in the walls. Kagarran’s throne, a massive chair of carved wood and steel, stands at the far end of the hall, flanked by iron braziers that cast flickering shadows across the stone floor.
Beneath the keep, a network of dungeons and storerooms extends deep into the rock of the cliff. It is rumoured that Kagarran keeps a number of prisoners here, including rival pirate captains and even a few captured League officers. The dungeons are also said to hold the vast wealth that Kagarran has accumulated through years of plunder and piracy: chests of gold and silver, barrels of exotic spices, and racks of fine weapons and armour.
Kagarran’s forces at Varferril number around 300 hardened corsairs, each handpicked for their loyalty and skill. The garrison is well-disciplined, with strict rules governing the conduct of Kagarran’s men. Those who break these rules, or who dare to cross Kagarran himself, are dealt with swiftly and mercilessly. Public executions are not uncommon, and the remains of those who displease Kagarran are often displayed on the battlements as a warning to others.
In addition to his men, Kagarran commands a small fleet of warships, including the Black Krethgorr, his personal flagship, a swift and deadly galleon that has become the terror of the northern seas. These ships regularly patrol the waters around Reaver’s Bay and beyond, intercepting merchant vessels and League patrol ships alike. Kagarran’s control of the bay has made Varferril a thriving hub of illicit trade.

Type

Fortress